How to inspect a car in Slovakia, check registration documents parts I and II and the originality inspection, arrange insurance and export, and register it in Poland.
Slovakia is another nearby market that appears administratively familiar. The key phrase, however, is “current owner”. If the seller will not or cannot initiate the export at the traffic inspectorate, the Polish buyer may not be able to remedy the situation with only a purchase contract and a full tank of fuel.
Who can actually arrange the export
The Slovak permanent-export procedure assigns the action to the vehicle's current owner. Before paying, confirm that person's identity, availability and willingness to attend the office. If a representative acts for them, the representative must have valid authority.
The process uses the registration certificate parts I and II, registration plates and other documents. The new holder may need proof of insurance. Export documents are issued for a limited period, so the transport date must be realistic.
An originality inspection is not an underbody inspection
The originality inspection, known as KO, verifies the vehicle's identity, documents and alterations relevant to originality. A recent report may be required for export. It is not, however, a substitute for a pre-purchase technical inspection.
A CarAudit technician or another independent expert must separately check the bodywork, paint, underbody on a lift, engine, transmission, brakes, tyres, electronics and diagnostics and conduct a road test. A car can pass KO and still have an expensive mechanical fault.
Documents and the vehicle's origin
Slovak adverts often feature cars that were previously imported from another country. Establish the date of first registration, the date of registration in Slovakia and the original documents. The mileage and accident history may have a gap before the Slovak registration.
Compare the VIN in every document and on the vehicle. For an invoice from a used-car dealership, check whether the dealership actually owns the car or is merely brokering the sale. That role changes both the contract and liability.
Plan the KO, office visit and transport as one day's schedule
A KO report remains current for a limited period, and the authority has its own time limits. Do not book transport for a fixed time until the seller confirms that the documents are ready. For export plates, check the insurance and validity for the route to Poland.
If the office visit or KO cannot be completed in time, the car may have to remain in Slovakia. The contract should therefore state when risk passes, where the vehicle will be kept, and who pays for an extra day of transport.
Continuing the process in Poland
The car is not administratively ready simply because it has crossed the Polish border. Customs duty is generally not due on a used car from the EU, but the buyer must deal with Polish excise duty, registration, insurance and, where applicable, a technical inspection or translations. The AKC-US declaration is normally filed within 14 days of the tax liability arising, and the tax is paid within 30 days. An application to register a car imported from an EU Member State must be submitted within 30 days of import.
VAT cannot be determined merely from the fact that the car is described as used in an advert. Under EU rules, a vehicle is new if it has travelled no more than 6,000 km or was supplied within six months of first registration. It is used only when both opposite conditions are met. For a dealer invoice, the VAT scheme applied also matters. A Slovak export document and KO do not deal with Polish excise duty or registration. Create a separate Polish checklist and track both deadlines.
A Polish administrative step cannot make up for a missing Slovak document. Before paying, therefore, check that the purchase document, foreign registration certificate, any deregistration confirmation and the technical records form an unbroken chain for a single VIN.
What should stop the transaction
The seller is not the current owner. Part II of the document is missing. The KO is to be issued for a different VIN or is older than the export procedure allows. You are told that insurance will “somehow be bought at the border”. Or the dealership refuses to state whether it is the seller or an intermediary. Do not proceed until these points have been clarified.
FAQ
Who declares the export of a car from Slovakia?
The current owner or an authorised representative, in accordance with the Slovak procedure.
Does the originality inspection check the technical condition?
No. It verifies identity and originality within its defined scope. The mechanical systems and bodywork must be inspected separately.
How recent must the KO result be?
The official procedure uses a limited validity period. Check the exact number of days immediately before publication and the transaction.
How long are the export documents valid?
They have limited validity. Recheck the current period with the ministry or on slovensko.sk.
Primary sources
- Slovensko.sk — temporary or permanent export of a vehicle — export, originality inspection and document validity
- PUESC — AKC-US — declaration within 14 days and payment within 30 days
- Polish Ministry of Infrastructure — vehicle registration — the 30-day deadline and registration framework
- Your Europe — VAT when buying or selling a car across borders — new versus used vehicles for VAT purposes
